New Greece supervisor seeks end to budget-draining sick day payouts

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Saying municipal policy regarding sick days for high-ranking public employees has cost taxpayers in Greece hundreds of thousands of dollars in just four years, new Town Supervisor Jeff McCann wants a change in town guidelines.

In 2025 alone, the town paid $240,423 for unused sick days to three retiring employees, McCann’s office said.

Thanks to a 2022 amendment to town policy, management-level employees in Greece have been entitled to receive payment for unused sick days. Other town employees were not allowed to bank sick days for pay.

“I was shocked to learn that this benefit existed when I became supervisor six weeks ago,” McCann said in a news release, adding that the practice is generally not available to employees in any other Monroe County town.

“Sick time is an insurance policy for employees, not a retirement bonus,” he said. “The fact that it was only available to the highest paid managers is, quite frankly, appalling.”

The policy also meant the town paid $162,818 to former Deputy Supervisor Michelle Marini upon her retirement in 2024, which came one day before she was indicted on felony grand larceny charges.

McCann’s proposal regarding the benefits policy also would require that managers contribute to their health insurance premiums upon retirement. Along with allowing used sick days to be banked for cash payouts, the 2022 policy change also provided health insurance at no cost during retirement.

The new proposal would require retiring management personnel to continue paying the same premium contribution they paid during active employment, which would be consistent with rules for other town employees.

“Policies like these have real consequences,” McCann said. “Not only was this a financial hit to the town budget — money that could not be used for public safety, parks or infrastructure — but it eroded our residents’ faith in government.

“These policy changes are a necessary first step in returning accountability and fairness to the town of Greece.

Together with limiting the amount of compensatory time that can be paid to managers, the proposal will save an estimated $100,000 annually, McCann’s office said.

The town board is scheduled to vote on the matter on Feb. 19.

McCann won the election for supervisor in November, the first Democrat to hold the position in Greece in more than 100 years. Former Supervisor Bill Reilich reached his term limit at the end of 2025.

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